North Carolina Secures $213 Million to Transform Rural Health Care
We’re excited to share a major milestone for rural health in North Carolina. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved North Carolina’s application for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), unlocking over $213 million in first-year funding to strengthen health care delivery across 85 rural counties.
This achievement reflects collaboration with more than 420 stakeholders, including rural hospitals, community health centers, local health departments, Tribal communities, and community- and faith-based organizations. It underscores North Carolina’s long-standing commitment to ensuring rural residents have access to high-quality, affordable care.
Why This Matters
North Carolina has the second-largest rural population in the nation, facing unique challenges in access, workforce, and infrastructure. The RHTP introduces six key strategies to address these needs:
- Expand behavioral health services
- Invest in the rural health workforce
- Improve prevention and chronic disease management
- Support providers transitioning to value-based care
- Enhance health care technology
- Launch NC ROOTS Hubs to connect medical, behavioral health, and social supports
What’s Next
Implementation will involve a broad coalition of state agencies, rural providers, community partners, academic institutions, and the private sector. Once funding is received, NCDHHS will:
- Establish a statewide governance structure
- Begin building regional hubs
- Engage stakeholders in funding and implementation decisions
To keep the conversation going, NCDHHS will host a virtual town hall on Friday, Jan. 16 to share program goals, next steps, and statewide impact. Details and registration will be available soon on the https://www.ncdhhs.gov.
Impact at a Glance
- Nearly 3 million rural North Carolinians supported
- More than 400 rural health facilities strengthened
- $213 million in federal investment for year one
This is a transformative moment for rural health in North Carolina, and we look forward to working together to make it a success.
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From the North Carolina Office of Rural Health:
The Office of Rural Health (ORH) offers qualifying physicians, with educational (student) loan debt, incentive payments to repay their loans tax-free through the Primary Care Physicians Initiative (NC PCPI). With the passage of Session Law 2023-134, incentive payments are awarded to eligible physicians in exchange for providing comprehensive primary care services in outpatient settings at eligible sites serving those with highest need located within Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the North Carolina's County Distress Rankings (Tiers).
Funding is limited and the awards will be based on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible and complete applications. ORH anticipates up to 16 awards in each of the six Medicaid Regions. The application portal will not accept more than 20 applications per Medicaid Region.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and gather necessary documentation so that they are prepared to complete the online application in its entirety via the application portal.
The NC Office of Rural Health has released Wave 2 of the Telehealth Infrastructure Grants funding opportunity! Applicants have until January 31, 2025 to apply.
Grants resulting from this Request for Applications (RFA) will enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of telehealth services throughout the state. This RFA aims to support the development and improvement of the technological infrastructure required for delivering remote healthcare services, such as broadband connectivity, video conferencing systems, electronic medical records, and secure communication tools with a priority on independent primary care practices and Ob-GYN practices.
Just as orthopedic nurses are skilled at caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, and cardiac nurses specialize in patient care of cardiovascular disease, rural nurses are skilled at knowing a little bit about everything! They balance the needs of their patients with the often-limited resources and other challenges in small and sometimes isolated areas.
Join us for this FREE Educational Support Program Designed Specifically for Rural Nursing in NC.
Due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Western NC, the NC AHEC Nurse Council has decided to reschedule the 7th Annual Statewide AHEC Celebration for Rural Nursing Conference. Information details for the rescheduled date will be sent separately. Alternatively, we are hosting this free educational support program for rural health nurses still in honor of the upcoming National Rural Health Day in November.
Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Livestream Webinar
REGISTER NOW - FOR FREE
As our healthcare providers in our communities are focusing on disaster relief and resiliency, they face these many challenging questions in bringing support to those suffering PTSD while trying to rebuild a new future:
- What do you say to someone who has lost everything?
- What resources are available for survivors?
- How can you distinguish between a normal post-disaster reaction and a serious mental health issue?
- What are the best ways to support children and other vulnerable populations?
Rural healthcare professionals are the heart of your communities and will play a crucial role in helping the people of North Carolina recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The road to recovery after a catastrophic natural disaster is long, and survivors will need support for years to come. This session, led by our faculty of disaster recovery mental health professionals, will equip you with the skills and knowledge to face the unique challenges of disaster response as you help communities rebuild.
Empowering more healthcare professionals, particularly rural nurses, to be trained and ready to respond in times of disaster will be an invaluable asset to our local communities, state, nation, and world. Topic specific focus on hurricane relief for NC will be covered that is reflective of both eastern and western experiences in our state.
Additionally, we will offer optional breakout sessions focused on group listening, networking support, and identifying best practices to address the current disaster support needs of the state.
Objectives
- Describe the impacts of disasters on the brain and body.
- Assess and triage the needs of survivors.
- Demonstrate effective techniques for stabilization after disasters.
- Provide support to special populations, such as children and individuals with special needs.
- Explain the orientation for Disaster Mental Health (DMH) response.
- Implement basic skills required for deployment in a DMH role.
- Distinguish variable disaster response in diverse communities.
Northwest AHEC would love to congratulate Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley and Surry Medical Ministries for their recent acceptance of State Designated Rural Health Centers of Excellence Awards! Join us in recognizing their dedication to providing quality care.
This week has been bustling for Northwest AHEC and the Office of Rural Health (ORH), with three site visits to the State Designated Rural Health Centers! Our partnership with SDRHC and ORH ensures top-notch primary healthcare for all residents in their communities. At NWAHEC, we're delighted to collaborate with these organizations, which truly strive to address the needs of their communities. A big thanks to Grace Clinic in Elkin, Surry Medical Ministries in Mt Airy and Hugh Chatham in Ronda and of course, working with the ORH team is always a pleasure.
The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program (NC AHEC) is seeking proposals to establish up to 5 rural interprofessional clinical training sites.
